Several days had passed since the Fey Nights was cleared for the first time. Lana was dressed and ready for the morning.
"Come on Midnight, let's get some breakfast." She said to the cat lying on her bed.
She couldn't hold back her smile when he jumped into her arms.
Outside of the room, her mother was waiting for her. Lady Winters smiled when her daughter walked past her without even realizing it. Lana was too enamored with her cat to even notice anything around her.
"Lana." She called.
"Ah!" Lanna jumped and spun around. "You scared me, why are you sneaking up on me?"
Her mother let out a laugh. "Silly girl, I was standing in front of your room, and you walked right by me."
Lana's cheeks tinted red as she blushed. "Sorry mom."
"It's alright. How are you doing Midnight?" She asked while reaching out and petting the creature in her daughter's arms.
A small meow was given as an answer.
Lana laughed when it sounded like the cat was answering her mothers' question. "I thought you would still be studying. What are you doing out and about?" She asked Lady Winters.
"I heard what was happening this morning and wanted to take a look."
"Ah… that. I have a feeling we won't do very well so don't get your hopes up." She said as the pair began walking down the steps of the mage tower.
"Then why would you agree to let people watch the projection of your first attempt on the second level."
Lana was still unsure whether it was a good idea to let everyone watch, but it was also a unique opportunity and Rod didn't want to waste it. If it wasn't them, maybe the next people who beat the first level would take advantage of it.
"Several adventurers kept asking Rod to let them watch the first run in the new level so they can plan on what to expect." Lana said. "I know that he wasn't too interested in the beginning, but they started up a fund. All together they are offering 100 Dungeon Dollars if we let them watch our first attempt."
"100 Dungeon Dollars… That is 10 gold, right?" Her mother asked.
Lana nodded. "It isn't a huge amount, but it is free money. And if we don't do it, the next group might. Lord Titters said he doesn't want any of it and I still feel like I owe them since I got my familiar spell. Giving up my portion of the Dungeon Dollars will make me feel better. That is why I agreed."
Lady Winters nodded. "Let's get something to eat then."
///
The group of 5 met in the village square. Rod had gotten in contact with Anna about the situation, since so many people wanted to watch their attempt, it didn't make sense for them to all try and cram into a small projection room.
Instead, it was going to be projected in the sky above the village.
"Is everyone ready?" Rod asked.
His father, Cindy, Dirk and Lana all nodded. With that, they walked into the archway to the second level.
[Level 2 Orc Camp]
[Suggested level: 15]
[You have entered a dungeon instance that will allow a maximum of 5 people.]
[Current Party]
[Rod Titters: Level 11 (Axe Master)]
[Dirk: Level 12 (Archer)]
[Lana Winters: Level 10 (Mage)]
[Cindy Titters: Level 15 (Saber Master)]
[Halbin Titters: Level 15 (Sword Master)]
The group quickly looked around and found themselves in a dimly lit stone room. On one side of the chamber was a solid metal door.
Dirk saw the door didn't have a handle, he tried pushing on it, and attempted to pull without anything to grab onto, but couldn't get the door to budge.
"Let's check the dungeon information tab." Lana said.
"Good idea."
Opening the tab, Rod decided to read out loud since people were paying them.
{When you woke up from your time in the Fey Lands it was hard to be sure if it was just a dream or a nightmare. But what you know for sure, is that you had let your guard down while sleeping. You woke in a large cage attached to the back of a wagon. An orc hunting part had captured you. For several days you travelled across the plains in a cage. Yesterday you arrived at a large orc settlement. That is when you found that your freedom could only earned through combat in the arena.}
"Woah. I guess that is why this level is called Orc Camp." Rod said.
*Dong* *Dong* *Dong* *Dong* *Dong*
The group suddenly heard a loud drum ring out 5 times. A faint cheer could be heard in the distance.
"We should get ready." Lord Titters said.
The others agreed and prepped themselves while turning to face the metal doors before them.
Behind them, loud grumbling and shifting could be heard. They turned to see the stone wall at their backs folding and contorting into a tunnel. In the distance daylight could be seen and the cheers or the arena entered their cells.
"I don't think we are going to be given much choice. Let's go." Rod said while leading the party out into the arena.
As they walked through the tunnel, the cheering grew louder.
Stepping into the sunlight, they were able to see the arena in its full glory.
Like their cell, the arena itself was carved from solid stone. Thousands of orcs with various skin colors sat in the stands. The rowdiest ones we on the edge of the arena. The tall, muscled creatures with tusks jutting from their mouths cheered and let outroars when the 5 adventurers entered the arena.
The arena itself was a circular area, 25 meters wide. Rocks, boulders, and dilapidated pillars covered the ground to provide varying terrain.
Directly across the arena, high in the stand was a large throne made of gnarled black wood. An orc taller than the rest rose from his seat and raised his hands.
"Quiet!" His thunderous roar silenced the arena.
When all attention was on him, the orc spoke.
"These adventurers were found on the land of Chrysus Orcs. We all know humans are squishy and weak. But these humans seem different. I will give them a chance. A chance to prove their worth. Overcome 3 challenges and you will earn your freedom and the respect of the Chrysus Orcs. Now… To Battle!"
"To Battle!"
"To Battle!"
"To Battle!"
"To Battle!"
Thousands of orcs started chanting and cheering.
"This is crazy." Lana muttered, a bit unaccustomed to all the attention.
Cindy who was beside her shrugged. "Real orcs would put you in a work camp till you are worked to death. They are already offering us respect by giving us a chance to fight."
Lord Titters nodded his agreement.
While it may seem evil to be captured and forced to fight to the death, for Orcs this was a small showing of respect. For a battle crazy race to want to watch them fight, it showed that the orcs didn't think they were worthless.
The large orc who spoke early waved his hands to calm down the crowd again.
"The first challenge…" His voice boom through the arena. "You may choose a beast to defeat. Beast Master! What sort of creatures do you have in the pens today?"
A heavily scared orc stood. He looked like he had been bitten and scratched hundreds of times. It might be more realistic to say that the orc had more scars than unblemished skin.
"Chief." The beast master responded while pounding his chest. "We have 3 beasts in the pens today. The first, a mighty foe that any orc raiding party would be honored to do battle with. A cyclops!" He yelled out the type of beast the crowd went wild.
As they calmed, he continued. "The second choice is a creature known for its viscous maw and incredible defense. A ground Wyrm!"
"And last, a scourge of the plains. An undead sabretooth tiger!"
Once the crowd settled the Orc Chief addressed the adventurers. "Choose quickly before I decided to see how you handle all 3 at once."
"Shit." Rod said as he quickly turned to his group. "What do you think?"
The others shrugged. "I don't have experience with any of these creatures." Lord Titters said. "But we should avoid the undead, they don't tire or feel pain. It can make things more difficult."
"Just pick one. Before we defeat this dungeon, I bet we will end up fighting each of them." Cindy added.
Dirk and Lana agreed. They didn't know much about these creatures.
Rod turned back to the Orc Chief. "We choose…"